Refrigerator cabinet



June 14, 1938. 2,120,327

W. F. ELSAESSER REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed NOV 10; 1934 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 as Egg.

Patented June M, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR. CABINET This invention relates to improvements in refrigerator cabinets and particularly to improvements in means for mounting and actuating thedoors thereof.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a refrigerator cabinet including an improved mounting for the door and particularly the sliding door.

Another object'of the invention is the provision of an improved sliding door mechanism for refrigerators and the like in which the door may be readily actuated without interference from or interfering with other parts of the refrigerator.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a sliding door refrigerator cabinet in which the sliding door is so mounted as to provide ready access to the interior of the cabinet and in which the give free access to the interior of the cabinet for cleaning purposes and the like. I

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily understood by reference to the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings and forming part thereof, and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in theexact structural details therein shown Without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended v claims.

In the drawings: A

Fig. l is a perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet embodying the improvements of this in vention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the forward portion of the cabinet as seen, for example, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the doorlocking mechanism and forming a detail of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through a spring counter-weight utilized in connection with the invention and forming a detail thereof;

Fig. 5 is a vertical from line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the door in a second operative position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 6 but showing the door and frame in a further operative position;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view as seen, for example, from line 88 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a. sectional view, taken on line 99 of Fig. 2, illustrating the connection of the closure plate with the cabinet.

Throughout the several views of the drawings door may be positioned to sectional view taken substantially at right angles to Fig. 2 and as seen similar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

As was noted. above this invention has for its prime object the provision of an improved mounting for sliding doors as used on refrigerators and the like. In prior structures the sliding doors were forced to travel through preformed trackways'which in the main failed to account for the seal strip and like obstructions in the cabinet thereby frequently setting up considerable friction to the movement of the doors andpreventing same from being operated efficiently. By the present invention the door, prior to its operation in a. vertical direction, is spaced from the said seal strip and other obstructions whereby it may be actuated in its normal manner with the least amount of effort.

Specifically this invention comprises a cabinet l having formed at the upper end thereof the refrigerated or food compartment ii and at the lower end the refrigerant or machinery compartment l2. As seen in Fig. 1 these compartments are formed between two vertical walls I8 and H which walls are thickened to provide suitable insulation for the refrigerated compartment as seen at l and IS in Fig.- 8. Supported by the said walls within the refrigerated compartment H ,arethe supporting shelvesli and I8 with the base is of the said compartment constituting a lower shelf.

As seen in Fig. 8, the insulated walls l5 and it are at their forward ends reduced, as at is and ii to provide at the base thereof a shoulder 22. These shoulders 22 are in the same plane with a similar shoulder 23 formed in the top plate 2 5 of the cabinet. Projecting outwardly from the shoulders 22 and 23 are the inside walls 22a and 23a which together with said shoulders 22 and 23 form a recess or channel 27a in which is disposed a, sliding door 2?. The base of the recess or shoulders 22 and 23 are in the same plane with the forward face 25 of the lowermost shelf iii. The base of the door recess or the shoulders 22 and 23 and the forward face 25 of the shelf i9 form a support for a seal strip 25 which is of usual and well-known construction and cooperates with the inner face of the door 21 for sealing the refrigerated compartment II from the atmosphere when the said door is closed.

The recess 21d extends the full height of the cabinet and encloses not only the seal strip 26 and door 21, but also the supporting means be further described in detail. As will be seen in Fig. 8, the outer surface of the seal strip is considerably below the outer end of the channel or recess 21a and it is this space beyondthe seal strip which is occupied by the door when in closed position, and which space and the remaining vertical portion of the channel are occupied by the door and its supdoor. -As seen in Figs. 8 and 2, the door 21 is provided in its vertical edges with a passageway 28 which constitutes a track for the door for guiding same in its vertical movements. Received in the said passageways is a frame comprising essentially side arms 29 and 30. For convenience in illustrating the invention the arms 29 and 30 are shown connected at their upper ends by a brace 31 which is integral therewith and forms in effect a U-shaped frame. It is to be understood, however, that this frame need not be integral but may have the upper ends of the arms joined in some other manner. In order to permit the door to be fully closed it is provided in its upper edge with a passage 32 which is similar to the vertical edge passages 26. It will be appreciated that if the-arms 29 and 30 are joined in any other manner or are in fact left free, the passageway 32 is unnecessary. It should also be noted that the foregoing specific description of the frame is given merely for-illustrative purposes since the only essential parts of the frame are the arms 23 and 30 to form a guide for the door. I

The arms 29 and 30 are respectively pivotally connected at their lower ends to the sides l3 and I4 as by screw-threaded stu'ds or bolts 33 and 34. By this construction the door and its frame maybe oscillated away from the refrigerated compartment II to the position shown in Fig. 6, at which time'the door proper is free of the seal strip 26 and may be readily actuated relative to the frame. By this construction also the door and its frame may be swung well outwardly of the cabinet and may in fact be disposed horizontally with respect to the floor thereby permitting complete access to the interior of the cabinet for cleaning purposes of the refrigerated compartment and inspection and repair of the refrigerator unit (not shown) and the like within the compartment l2.

It will be appreciated that thedoor 21 is of considerable weight and to facilitate the raising and lowering of said door there is provided a counter-weight mechanism shown in the drawings as of the spring type but the invention is not necessarily limited to this type of construction as a simple weight could be employed. As shown in the drawings, particularly Fig.- 4, the spring counter-weight comprises a housing 35 in which is a coiled tape 36 having one end secured to a rotatable spring cup 31. Within cup 31 is a fiat coiled spring 38 having one end secured to the inner surface of the cup 31 and the other end secured to a shaft 39 about which the cup 31 rotates.' The free end of the tape 36 is secured at 40 to a stud 4| dependingfrom the lower 'edge of the door 21. The housing 35 is secured in any desirable manner to the under surface of the lowermost shelf l9 and it is believed that the operation of the spring counter-balance is selfevident since the downward movement of the door 21 will tend to coil the spring 38 which at all times has sufllcient tension to prevent the dropping thereof while the .upward movement of the door is assisted by the uncoiling of the spring. Projecting from the lower end of the stud 4! is a bumper 42 having a rubber or other resilient head 43 which limits the downward movement of the door and provides a cushion therefor.

In order to actuate the door and the frame toward the refrigerator cabinet to cause the door to engage the seal strip 26 the latching or locking mechanism shown in Fig. 3 is employed, This porting frame during the manipulation of the latching or locking mechanism comprises a plate 44 having integral therewith a flange 45 through which screws or the like extend for attaching the plate to the cabinet ill at the upper end thereof. The plate 44 is provided with a slot 46 flanked on each side by a cam face such as 41 and 48. At the ends of the cam" faces 41 and 48 the slot is-substantially parallel with the face of the cabinet as shown at 43. Received in the slot 46 is a finger 50 keyed or otherwise secured to a short shaft 5| rotatably mounted in a bracket 52 secured to the forward face of the door 21 near the upper end thereof. The outer end of the shaft 5| carries a knob 53 whereby said shaft may be rotated for actuating the finger 50 relative to the slot 46-43.

From the foregoing it is believed that the operation of the improved refrigerator door and its mounting will be understood. It should be noted,

however, that when the door has been shifted to its uppermost position the knob 53 is rotated to cause the finger 53 to enter the slot 46. During the movement of the finger 50 through this slot the cam face 46 causes the door 21 and the frame arms 29 and 33 to be oscillated in a clockwise direction about the axis of the pivoted studs 33 and 34 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the closed position shown in Fig. 2. The finger 50 is finally disposed within the slot portion 49' for lockingthe door in its closed position. The

reverse actuation of the finger 50 throughout handle or knob 53 causes the cam face 41 to shift the door and its frame outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 6 thereby completely freeing the inner face of the door from the seal strip and permitting the door to be readily vertically actuated. The door and its frame is held in the slightly inclined positionby a suitable latch mechanism and the spring counterweight above described performs the function of assisting in the vertical manipulation of the door and for holding the door in any desired position.

This latch mechanism, as seen in the drawings, comprises a spring arm 53 secured at its.

inner end within a-recess formed in the under surfaceof top 24 of the cabinet. The outer end of the arm is bent downwardly to form a latch 53 which is adapted to lie in front of the cross bar 3| of the door frame. date the latch 53 the door is provided in its upper end with a notch 60. In order to raise the latch it has projecting therefrom a finger piece 6| which projects beyond the cabinet a slight distance.

To permit an inspection of the lower or refrig- To accommoerator compartment l2 without actuating the door frame from its normal position there is provided a removable inspection plate 54 having secured to its lower edge hinge members 55 which are adapted to be disposed behind a tie bar 56 connecting the lower ends of the cabinet sides l3 and 14. To yieldably hold the inspection plate in .position it has projecting from its side edges a pair of spring clips 51 which are adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the frame arms 29 and 30. To accommodate the said spring clips there is a small space provided between the sides of the arms and the adjacent faces of the cabinet walls.

The inspection plate is so formed as to provide clearance for the sliding door without forming an unsightly opening and it should be noted that the spring clips while engaging the outer surfaces of the arms 29 and 30 in nowise interfere with the vertical movement of the door.

It should also be noted at this time that while there has been shown but one counter-balancing mechanism for the door two or more such mechanisms may be readily provided without adding to or detracting from the invention and the greater number of counter-balances being necessary only when the weight of the door justifies same.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerator cabinet of the class described the combination of a cabinet having a recess in its forward face, a door frame pivotally mounted within said recess for oscillation relative thereto toward and from the cabinet, a door supported by said frame for movement therewith and for vertical movement relative thereto and wholly within said door frame, means for holding said frame and supported door in a closed position, and independent means for holding said door frame in a slightly open position to permit vertical movement of the door.

2. In a refrigerator cabinet of the class described the combination of a cabinet having a recess in its forward face, a door frame pivotally mounted within said recess for oscillation relative thereto toward and from the cabinet, a door supported by said'frame for movement therewith and for vertical movement relative thereto and wholly within said door frame, means for holding said frame and supported door in a closed posi tion, and independent means for holding said door frame in a slightly open position-tdpermit vertical movement of the door, said means for holding the frame and door in a closed position including positively acting members for effecting the actuation of the frame relative to its pivotal mounting.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet of the class described the combination of a cabinet having a recess in its forward face, a door frame pivotally mounted within said recess for oscillation relative thereto toward and from the cabinet, a door supported by said frame for movement therewith and for vertical movement relative thereto and wholly within said door frame, means for holding said frame and supported door in a closed position, and independent means for holding said door frame in a slightly open position to permit vertical movementof the door, said means for holding the frame and door in a closed position including positively acting members for effecting the actuation of the frame relative to its pivotal mounting, comprising a co-operating cam plate and latch associated with the cabinet and door.

4. In a refrigerator of the class described the combination of a cabinet having an upper refrigerated compartment and a lower compartment, each compartment having an opening whereby access may be had thereto, a frame pivotally secured to the cabinet for oscillatory movement toward and from the cabinet openings, a sliding door mounted on said frame for movement therewith and relative thereto 'for closing the refrigerated compartment opening, and a removable inspection plate yieldably secured to said frame for closing the second compartment opening.

5. In a refrigerator of the class described the combination of a cabinet having an upper refrigerated compartment and a lower compartment, each compartment having an opening whereby access may be had thereto, a frame pivotally secured to the cabinet for oscillatory moveand permit of its ment toward and from the cabinet openings, a sliding door mounted on said frame for movement therewith and relative thereto for closing the refrigerated compartment opening, a removable inspection plate yieldably secured to said frame for closing the second compartment opening, and counter-balance means for facilitating the operation of the sliding door.

6. In a refrigerator of the class described the combination of a cabinet having an upper refrigerated compartment and a lower compartment, each compartment having an opening whereby access may be had thereto, a frame pivotally secured to the cabinet for oscillatory movement toward and from the cabinet openings, a sliding door mounted on said frame for movement therewith and relative thereto for closing the refrigerated compartment opening, a removable inspection plate frame for closing the second compartment opening, sealing means around the refrigerated compartment opening, for oscillating the axis of the pivotal sealing means. i

7., In a refrigerator of the class described the combination of a cabinet having an upper re frigerated compartment and a lower compartment, each compartment having .an opening whereby access may be had thereto, a frame pivotally secured to the cabinet for oscillatory movement toward and from the cabinet openings, a sliding door mounted on said frame for movement therewith and relative thereto for closing the refrigerated compartment opening, a removable inspection plate yieldably secured to said frame for closingthe second compartment opening, sealing means around therefrigerated com-v partment opening, and positively acting means for oscillating the door and its frame about the axis of the pivotal mounting for compressing the sealing means, and for actuating the door and its door and its frame about the and positively acting means yieldably secured to said mounting for compressing the frame from the sealing means to free the door thereof and permit of its ready actuation.

8. In a refrigerator otally secured to the cabinet for oscillatory move-Q.

ment toward and from the cabinet openings, a

of the class described the combination of a cabinet having an upper re-- sliding door mounted on said frame for movement therewith andrelative thereto for closing the refrigerated compartment opening, a removable inspection plate yieldably secured to said frame for closing the second compartment opening, sealing means around the refrigerated compartment opening, and positively acting means for oscillating the door and its frame about the axis of the pivotal mounting for compressing the sealing means, and for actuating the door and its frame from the sealing means to free the door thereof ready actuation including a cam cooperating with" a cam follower.

9. A domestic refrigerator cabinet of the class described comprising a front, a back and side walls, a partition supported by said walls intermediate the height thereof and forming on the upper side thereof a food compartment and on the under side a second compartment, the cabinet front having an opening therein whereby access may be had to the said compartments, a recess'in said cabinet front around at least three sides of the opening therein and with the base of the recess and forward edge of the compartments partition flush with one anothena sliding door of a width proportioned to the width of the recessto providean easy sliding fit, a height to at least completely close the food compartment-when in a raised position, and of a thickness less than the depth of the recess whereby it may be actuated toward and from the base of the recess, means associated with said cabinet and sliding door to retain the door in the recess during its operation, and counterweight means connected to said door to assist in its vertical operation, a sealing strip around the food compartment opening and adapted to be compressed by the door upon actuation of the door toward the recess base when the door is in a raised position, and co-operating means carried'by the door and cabinet for effecting this movement of the door toward the recess base, and a removable closure plate for the second compartment so arranged and supported with respect to the cabinet front, sliding door and retaining means as to provide a space behind which the sliding door moves when operated to open the food compartment opening.

10. In a refrigerator having-an upper shelved compartment and a lower compartment each having an opening through one wall of the cabinet whereby access may be had thereto, the combination of a frame pivotally secured-t0 the cabinet for swinging movement toward and from the compartment openings, a door carried by said frame for sliding movement relative thereto to close and open the opening to the upper shelved compartment and for successively exposing said shelves, a closure plate carried by said frame for closing the lower compartment and behind which the door is movablewhen opening the shelved compartment, and counterbalancing means for facilitating the opening and closing of the door of the shelved compartment and for holding the door in various open positions relative thereto.

11. In a refrigerator having an upper shelved compartment and a lower compartment each having an opening through one wall of the cabinet whereby access may be had thereto, the combination of a frame pivotally secured to the cabinet for swinging movement toward and from the compartment openings, a door carried by said frame for sliding movement relative thereto to close and open the opening to the upper shelved compartment and for successively exposing said shelves, a closure plate carried by said frame for closing the lower compartment and behind which the door is movable whenopening the, shelved compartment, counterbalancing means for facilitating the opening and closing of the door of the shelved compartment and for holding the door in various open positions relative thereto, a sealing strip around said shelved compartment adapted to be compressed upon movement of the pivoted frame and. parts carried thereby toward the door opening and released upon reverse movement of the same, and means for limiting the said reverse movement of the frame prior to the sliding movement of the door.

12. In a refrigerator having an upper shelved compartment and a lower compartment each having an opening through one wall of the cabinet whereby access may be had thereto, the combination oita frame pivotally secured to the cabinet for swinging movement toward and from the compartment openings, a door carried by said frame for sliding movement relative thereto to close and open the opening to the upper shelved compartment and for successively exposing said shelves, a closure plate carried by said frame for closing the lower compartment and behind which the door is movable when opening the shelved compartment, counterbalancing means for facilitating the opening and closing of the door of the shelved compartment and for holding the door in various open positions relative thereto, and positively acting means for actuating the frame and parts carried thereby toward the compartments openings when the door is in its fully closed position.

13. In a refrigerator having an upper shelved compartment and a lower compartment each having an opening through one wall of the cabinet whereby access may be had thereto, the combination of a frame pivotally secured to the cabinet for swinging movement toward and from the compartment openings, a door carried by said frame for sliding movement relative thereto to close and open the opening to the upper shelved compartment and for successively exposing said shelves, a closure plate carried by said frame for closing the lower compartment and behind which the door is movable when opening the shelved compartment, counterbalancing means for facilitating the opening and closing of the door of the shelved compartment and for'holding the door in various open positions relative thereto, and positively acting means foractuatirig the frame and parts carried thereby toward the compartments openings when the door is in its fully closed position comprising a cam and cam follower one of which is carried by the door and the other by the cabinet.

14. In a cabinet of the class described havmg an upper shelved compartment and a lower compartment access to which is had through suitable openings formed in one wall of the cabinet, a door frame pivotally mounted on the cabinet for swinging movement toward and from said openings, a vertically slidable door carried by said frame for movement relative. thereto to open and close the opening to the shelved compartment, a closure plate carried by the frame'for closing the opening to the lower compartment and behind which the slidable door passes, a seal strip around the opening to the shelved compartment adapted to be compressed by the door upon movement of the door frame toward said opening, said .door frame and parts carried thereby having a limited swinging movement away from the cabinet prior to the sliding movement of the door, and means'carried by the cabinet and cooperating with the door frame to effect said limited swinging movement of the door frame.

15. In a cabinet of the class described having a compartment therein with an opening therefor through one side of the cabinet, the combination of a door frame pivotally mounted on said cabinet for oscillation toward and from the cabinet and its opening, a latch for limiting the oscillation of the door frame away from the cabinet and for holding said door framein a slightly open posi- WILLIAM F. ELSAESSER. 

